Zika virus: Outbreak 'likely to spread across Americas'

[Easo]

There is reason we don't use DDT. Why are you even talking about it?

[Osmeric]

There is reason we don't use DDT. Why are you even talking about it?

There's an element of the lunatic rightwing in the US that hates Rachel Carson, and opposition to DDT (and other persistent pesticides) was one of her big things.

[Thepersona]

The silver lining is that my country (chile) does not have the mosquito that spreads the disease, so... you're welcome tourists
we're mostly safe because of the andean mountain range, and the pacific ocean.
OT: if i'm correct you could mutate some males so that in 4 or 5 generations all of said specimens descendants will die

[Masark]

There is reason we don't use DDT. Why are you even talking about it?

Multiple reasons actually.

And because their ideology states one of those reasons is invalid and they are ignorant of the other reasons.

People seem to have gotten it into their heads that DDT is god's own insecticide and it's only because of those liberal environmentalists that we don't use it and have a mosquito-free utopia.

[Reeve]

Multiple reasons actually.

And because their ideology states one of those reasons is invalid and they are ignorant of the other reasons.

People seem to have gotten it into their heads that DDT is god's own insecticide and it's only because of those liberal environmentalists that we don't use it and have a mosquito-free utopia.

There's a reasonable reason to think it's "god's own insecticide." It worked.

Here's where Malaria was in the US in the 1880s:



It's nowhere in the US today. DDT was a huge part of the reason for that, along with other insecticides and awareness campaigns.

[Easo]

That stuff (and others) worked in USSR too. There was a moment when chemistry was the wonderscience and true and right.
Of course, then it was found out that there are complications to it's use, just like elsewhere in the world.

[Adam Jensen]

Oh yay! Another virus for people to freak out about!

[micwini]

"babies being born with underdeveloped brains" Isn't this the case already with most people from NA? EleGiggle

[Adam Jensen]

You realize that mosquitoes don't follow illegal immigrants like they're the bestest food ever, right?

Diseases born by pests migrate regardless of immigration. Trying to blame it on "those immigrants bringing us diseases" is a shitty tactic when you realize mosquitos don't give a fuck about immigration.

But Mexican blood tastes like salsa!!!!!